Krüppel (Cripples) 1920

This is the title page of the portfolio 'Krüppel' – 'Cripples' – a series of lithographs by Heinrich Hoerle, published in 1920. The stark typography itself becomes a symbol, evoking the fragmented and broken state of post-war German society. The capitalized word 'Krüppel' immediately brings to mind the wounded soldiers returning from the war. The list below speaks of the 'everlasting pain', the 'man with the wooden leg,' the 'unemployed'. These figures are not merely physical representations of suffering; they embody a collective trauma, a psychological wound inflicted upon an entire generation. The 'tree of longing' suggests a subconscious desire for healing, a return to wholeness. Yet, this hope is juxtaposed with 'hallucinations', hinting at the distorted reality experienced by those scarred by war. The cyclical nature of trauma, passed down through generations, finds its visual echo in the recurring motifs of suffering throughout art history. This is not just a depiction of cripples; it's a mirror reflecting the fractured psyche of a nation.